2013 Nissan GT-R Pricing Released
Nissan Has Released Official U.S. Pricing for the 2013 GT-R
For 2013 Nissan will release two different trim levels of the Nissan GT-R R35 Stateside: the GT-R Premium--the standard GT-R Model--and the suped up GT-R Black Edition. The Black Edition, which I've gone over extensively in prior posts, features lightweight black forged aluminum RAYS wheels, unique red and black interior, Recaro leather-appointed seats and a new dry processed and vacuum formed carbon fiber rear spoiler.
The two models will begin retailing at the MSRPs of:
GT-R Premium: $96,820
GT-R Black : $106,320
The base price for the Premium sees a healthy hike of $6870 over the 2012 MSRP of $89950, and the premium paid for the Black Edition over the 2012 comparable trim level is a raise of more than $11k. Of course, with this healthy rise in price, the consumer also gains some healthy benefits. Chief amongst those benefits is an increase of 15HP and 15lb.-ft of torque over the 2012 GT-R counterpart. This power comes with increased transmission efficiency as well.
The gains to performance don't stop with increased HP and Torque numbers, either. The 2013 Nissan GT-R R35 features a retuned suspension that has been adjusted and optimized for track performance. The braking system is upgraded some also, and the 2013 GT-R R35 features Brembo full-floating cross-drilled rotors, low steel high stiffness brake pads and Brembo monoblock six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.
For those people who like their supercar with some luxury, the 2013 R35 isn't focused solely on performance, either. The primary interior upgrade is found in the GT-R's audio system, which now features a standard 11-speaker Bose surround sound system that utilizes rigid diecast steel panels for improved mounting and stability. The Nissan GT-R R35 also features an upgraded Rearview screen, Bluetooth integrated hands-free phone support, and real-time traffic and weather updates with optional XM subscription.
Nismo GT3 GT-R Unveiled, to Hit Dubai 24 Hour Track
Nissan Motorsports Announces FIA GT3 GT-R R35
NISMO has finally unveiled a special track edition for the R35 GT-R that meets all FIA GT-3 qualifications and will begin its racing life at the Dubai 24 Hour Track.
NISMO teamed up with JR Motorsports to produce a special track version of the world-renowned r35 GT-R that would be FIA GT3 race compliant, and the results are impressive. With more than a full year's work between the two groups, they've finally hammered out a final product that is sure to take the GT3 World Race circuit by storm.
This new GT3 GT-R is powered by a modified version of the same 3.8L TT V6 engine found in the stock vehicle that will deliver 523 HP to the wheels at 6400 RPM via a modified six-speed rear wheel transaxle controlled through semi-automatic paddle shifters.
The GT3 Version of the GT-R was designed with both the track and the customer in mind, and NISMO took their time with this one to ensure that it had both performance and driveability. To allow for this, they enhanced the chassis for greater inspiration of confidence to those behind the wheel and then allowed for adjustable suspension set-up and driver controls so that whoever is behind the wheel can ensure the vehicle meets their track needs.
This new GT3 race compliant GT-R iteration was first unveiled on Thursday, January 12th at the Autosport International Exhibition (AIE) and Show in the UK. The immediate reception was extremely favorable, as crowds tended to be impressed both by the vehicle's performance potential as well as its obvious, stylistic, modifications suitable for a GT3 course.
To further show off the vehicle's potential, once the GT-R GT3 finishes his showing at the AIE, Nismo will be taking it to the Dubai 24 Hour for competition. There, the GT3 GT-R has already qualified for third on the grid--where the first two spots are occupied by GT3 Ferraris. For the Dubai 24 Hour race, the GT3 GT-R will feature an all-star team comprised of some of last year's world wide GT-R race winners: Michael Krumm, Alex Buncombe, Tom Kimber-Smith and Franck Malliaux. The NISMO GT3 GT-R will feature, prominently, the number 32 for the race.
Of course, things aren't always golden. Yesterday, Michael Krumm--who will be the first driver behind the wheel of the GT-R in the Dubai 24 Hour set to begin today--was quoted as having said “We had a tough start today as we had a few problems with the car but the guys did a great job to get it ready for qualifying.” Thankfully, the team of GT-R engineers that were on hand for NISMO took care of issues, and Krumm closed out with the statement, “The car worked very well and I am very impressed with the engine in particular. I love the GT-Rand I love it even more now. We just need to keep it all together for the long race tomorrow.”
Best of luck to those guys today as they show off the GT-R's capabilities in the GT3 races.
Now, if you want to own a GT3 ready GT-R, produced directly by NISMO for such an occasion, you'll soon be able to. NISMO themselves will be directly responsible for sales and all customer support on their GT3 GT-R in the major markets of: Japan, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania. For those in Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, NISMO's partner JRM will be handling all distribution and support. Pricing has not yet been officially announced.
The 2012 GT-R Track Pack is Incredible, but Won’t Hit American Soil
2012 Nissan GT-R Track Pack
Nissan Announces the 2012 Nissan GT-R Track Pack: for Japan, the U.K., Australia, and South Africa only.
Nissan engineers recently unveiled the details of their new Track-Pack trim for the Nissan GT-R, and I must say that it's pretty exciting. The complete track-pack will take the already incredible Nissan GT-R and prepare it for the racing circuit for its more demanding customers. This track-pack, which will actually allow the GT-R to remain road legal where available, also provides the car with an extra edge on the circuit over its standard competition.
The package will lighten the vehicle substantially, and it achieves this by deleting the rear seats from the cabin, and replacing the front ones with ultra-lightweight Recaro racing ones. The vehicle is also equipped with lightweight RAYS alloys wheels, which help shave pounds off of the standard wheels, and some carbon fiber touches which are more lightweight than their plastic contemporaries.
In addition to the weight saving features, the GT-R track pack will also feature stiffer suspension rates all around to provide the vehicle with a "harder edge" and greater control through intense track turning conditions. Newly integrated active brake ducts will also work to allow the front brakes to operate as much as 100 degrees cooler around extreme track conditions--ultimately resulting in large reductions of brake fade and chatter. The track-pack will use the same drivetrain as its more road friendly brethren, but the changes help it drop its 0-to-60 time from 2.9 seconds to 2.7, and has allowed Nissan drivers to post regular sub-7 times on the Nurburgring.
In case you wanted to make sure people know what you're driving, too, the track pack outfitted GT-R will also have special badging both inside and out. And, finally, no special edition vehicle would be complete without an exorbitant price tag modification: in this case, 10,000 British pounds, or, the rough equivalent $15,700 American. What this means, ultimately, is that Nissan is removing parts of their car and charging more for it--a move that other automotive companies have been doing with track ready editions of their fastest vehicles.
Of course, for us Americans, even if we wanted to shell out that much $$ we couldn't, as Nissan will not be offering the Track Pack to its American consumers. If you were set on having one, however, I'm certain that $16k could get you an equivalent. Password:JDM makes R35 GT-R Carbon Fiber rear seat deletes, RAYS and Recaro products are readily available online, and any body shop worth their salt is certainly able to custom create active brake duct screens for your vehicle. In fact, with the $16k, you could forgo the RAYS and Recaro components, install the ducts and seat deletes, and then have the money leftover to purchase a complete titanium exhaust, like the one made by Akrapovic for the Nissan GT-R which adds 17HP and shaves 40lbs off of the vehicle. In the end, the GT-R with the seat deletes, active brake ducts, and upgraded exhaust would probably beat the Track Pack, even on a circuit.
Beautiful Matte Black GT-R
Not too long ago, a matte painted version of a supercar was little more than a joke of an idea. Originally the realm of the German banker and the Wall Street broker, the supercar was meant to be shiny, showy, and sexy. Well, things have changed today, and with global wealth actually skewing younger than before (in large part to the Middle Eastern oil wealth) six-figure supercars done in matte wraps are becoming less and less absurd an idea. And, while, they're definitely not as shiny or as showy as their gloss predecessors, the sexy has not gone away.
Thus, I give you this Matte Black and Carbon Fiber wrapped Nissan GT-R. It's so understated that it almost becomes overstated, and it takes vehicle styling and mixes it with that of a B-2 Stealth bomber; of course, this particular GT-R comes to us courtesy of the wealthy and mean (mean for a racer, at least) streets of Dubai - the world's newest playground for the exorbitantly wealthy.
The matte black wheels, matte black paint, carbon fiber fascia, splitter, diffuser, and spoiler pieces all come together beautifully with the vehicle's small touches of color -- the seemingly necessary highlights of the GT-R badging and the bronze colored Brembo caliper covers -- to make one gorgeous new GT-R. It's smooth, sleek, and looks like the sort of vehicle that would fit in perfectly in the wind-whipped and sand-blasted realm of the deserts surrounding its home. The carbon fiber exhaust tips (maybe they're an Akrapovic? It would make sense, the sound is right for one) are a great touch. Now, all the driver needs to do to complete the look is get themselves some acrylic light blackout kits.
For further proof of the beauty of the vehicle, also, take notice that the cameraman has focused directly on this very unique GT-R when inside of a Dubai parking garage where the following cars are also visible just within the few seconds of the video itself: multiple Porsche 911's, multiple Land Rovers, a Mercedes Benz G class, a Mercedes Benz S Class, and a gorgeous red Ferrari. That's millions of dollars within direct vicinity of this GT-R, yet its unique paint scheme and carbon fiber touches really set it apart.
I don't know, personally. I still like the gloss, showcar quality of a well-polished, well-done, metallic coat paint job, but there's something inherently sexy--and inherently Batmobile-esque--of an all-black GT-R, much like the new Black edition, that this Matte Black ride just totally personifies.
What do you think?
No Out-Running this Officer: Virginia Police Precinct Receives Custom Undercover Black GT-R
There's no running from this cop car. Please, residents of the state of Virginia, do not even try it.
EVI Corporation is a custom automotive company that spends its days outfitting vehicles for police forces--particularly for undercover purposes. A few weeks ago, they got in their very first Black Edition 2012 Nissan GT-R (with all of 13 miles on the odometer), and set to turning it in to the ultimate police car. Well, they've done just that, and a Virginia precinct (who will not be named, sadly) has purchased said GT-R.
This isn't the first Police GT-R to hit the streets, but this is definitely the coolest. EVI used a 530HP, Black Edition, 2012 GT-R as their base vehicle and outfitted with all of the police necessities. The flashing lights are hidden in the front headlights and in the front mirror, as well, so this vehicle is truly undercover.
Ultimately, there's not much more to say about this GT-R that hasn't already been said, expect to highlight what a crazy cool cop car it is. I guess it's a true V6 Interceptor, huh? And there's no running from it in any conditions. Here's just to hoping we don't hear about this one being involved in an accident any time soon, and I just want to imagine the look on the first person's face to get busted by this thing. I hope it happens when a ballsy Porsche or Ferrari pulls up next to it on the highway and tries to challenge it to a race. That would be a fun story. (Mostly because the GT-R would not only beat it at the race, but also pull it over).
Incredible 1500+ HP, 8 Second Nissan GT-R
There's no denying that the Nissan GT-R is an absolute beast on the track. So far as production cars go, the GT-R is in the top 1% in every category imaginable. That's the sort of performance that most people are more than satisfied with also. However, the guys over at AMS are not "most people". Where most people are in awe at the unparalleled feat of construction that is the GT-R, AMS saw something great and wanted to make it greater. That's when they set off to make the fastest GT-R, and one of the fastest cars, ever.
AMS kept all of the interior trim and amenities--AC, Stereo, Power Seats, and all--and boosted the HP on their GT-R up over the 1500 mark. That's right - 1500+ HP. That's more than 300HP over the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which is considered a benchmark vehicle in those terms. Of course, AMS didn't just want flashy HP numbers, so they set to improving the chassis, handling, and braking on their GT-R as well, and what they ended up with is this absolute 1500+ HP monster that's just as friendly on the city streets as it is terrifying on a track, and terrifying it is: this car just set a new 1/4 mile record by posting an 8.97 second, 169mph mark. That's right, sub 9's and 169mph in the 1/4 mile run. That's just not fair.
Awesome Video Find: Supercar Showdown
Best Motoring, one of Japan's most popular automotive media outlets, recently decided to put on a supercar showdown, and the results are fun in any language.
The showdown pits a 2011 (2012 in the U.S.) GT-R against a Lexus LFA, a Porsche 911 GT2RS, a Corvette ZR1, and a Ferrari 430F1 against one another for a three lap race on the famed Japanese Fuji Raceway. The dialog is all in Japanese, but when cars like this are racing, that doesn't matter does it? The vehicles all give a great showing, even though the GT-R's launch right around the Ferrari at the beginning of the race is one of the more impressive things I've seen in a long time. I'm used to seeing differences in acceleration like that between the GT-R and other vehicles, but never in a manner like this, where the GT-R is forced to go wide around a Ferrari within the first few seconds of the race because its get up and go is just that much more impressive. Not a vehicle to trifled with.
Ultimately, it's a fun race and a great video worth a watch. Hope you enjoy the results as much as I did!
Daijiro Yoshihara
In the motorsports world that seems to emanate from Japan, Daijiro Yoshihara—or Dai for short—has become somewhat of a legend. Some of you may or may not be familiar with the sport of drifting, but in the drifting world Dai is arguably one of the best drivers on the planet. At the age of 11, Dai found the thrills he was seeking in the street on top of two wheels with the only power coming from his legs. He was drifting bicycles. That's right—bicycles. For those of you unfamiliar with the sport of drifting, it is the manner in which a driver "slides" his vehicle (preferably a front engine/rear wheel drive platform) around corners and through turns. This process is achieved by breaking traction through a variety of ways at the entrance of the turn and then navigating the car through the preferred course at an angle nearing perpendicular to the travel of the car. Sound complicated? Here are some pictures to help:
The biggest thrill for Dai seems to have been perfecting his driving skills. After his bicycle drifting days, he found he could go faster on a motorcycle, and then eventually perfected his mountain driving experiences behind the wheel of a Toyota Corolla (AE86 chassis). From the days of driving the winding mountain roads of his homeland, he discovered a true passion for driving. This passion, which soon became a thrill seeking escape, became second to "getting a real job." Dai took a number of jobs that any early 20's male could see himself doing, but it wasn't until a friend offered him the opportunity of a lifetime with a trip to the US to drive in a competitive drifting event that his career unexpectedly took off. The stuff of legends and fairy tales. Dai drove the initial Formula D series in 2003 and placed very well in the top 16—by no means an easy feat. Regardless of exactly where he placed, the idea that he was driving trucks a month before, and was now competing on the world stage in the international drifting circuit at the highest level had to have been a mind blowing experience. For the next few years he competed at the highest level consistently placing on the podium in international competition. He now lives in Anaheim as well as Tokyo, and continues to drift a highly modified Nissan 240SX with a V8 engine swap, sponsored by Falken Tires and Discount Tire.
You might be saying to yourself—that's a very inspiring and all, but what does this have to do with my GT-R?
Patience, young grasshopper. The GT-R is a monster of a car on the track. For instance- Jeremy Clarkson of the popular British TV series Top Gear, lost his neck to G-Forces while test driving the car on the track in Japan. This is a man who drives every car you can imagine—and those you can't, on a very regular basis. His job is to test the most powerful and exotic cars on the planet, and the GT-R owned his neck. Pretty impressive. So, when an accomplished driver such as Dai hops behind the wheel of the R-35, you can expect great things to happen.
Now, imagine the GT-R was built and tuned by Mine's. That's right- the tuning giant Mine's of Japan has placed Dai Yoshihara behind the wheel of their highly modified R-35. Not only that, but they've arranged for him to be matched against the Honda tuning giant Spoon- and their NSX-R GT driven by American drifter Tyler McQuarrie. Tyler McQuarrie is no lightweight either when it comes to driving. He's an incredibly accomplished road racer, drifter and time attack driver who has competed all over the planet. The little known GTchannel online video group has put together these two heavyweight tuners and pulled some of the best drivers on the planet to put the two cars to the test in the hills of Buttonwillow. It's always fun to see two great drivers in two great cars go at it head to head. What makes this event even more interesting is the fact that neither driver has had any experience in the cars. So, you get a true sense of who builds an easier car to drive, and who can handle the car better.
Here's the low down dirty on what the Mine's car has in store for your drooling palette:
Engine (VR38DETT): 800ps @ 6,300RPM, 100kg-m @ 4,600RPM – Mine's Super Response Complete Engine (pistons, connecting rods), turbocharger kit, Spec-X 6.0 kit (Mine's VX-ROM Type-X ECU, turbo wastegate actuators, boost controller, HKS spark plugs), 800cc/min fuel injectors, high-flow throttle system, suction pipe kit, intercooler hard pipe kit, VX air filter, racing Silence-VX Pro Titan III exhaust, and Super Catalyzer II
Drivetrain: Mine's prototype clutch
Suspension: Mine's ESTA Full Spec Suspension III coilovers (Sachs 3-way dampers, Hyperco springs) and front/rear stabilizer bars
Brakes: Mine's prototype brake pads
Wheels: RAYS VR G12, 20×10-inch +30 (F), 20×11-inch +15 (R)
Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE070R, 255/40/20 (F), 285/35/20 (R)
Exterior: Mine's carbon fiber Type II front lip spoiler, Type II hood, Type I trunk, carbon rear wing, carbon doors, carbon bumper protector, side steps, carbon engine cover, carbon fiber antenna cover, quad-light tail illumination kit, and carbon mirror surrounds
This combination of speed and style is a true mark of engineering prowess from one of Japan's top tuners. These guys don't play around. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about the car is the extremely non-flashy approach they've taken by paint matching all of the carbon pieces and only adding their very light gray signature on the side.
The Spoon NSX-R GT is an entirely different beast however, and has been built like a Honda fanatics dream:
Spoon Signature NSX Type-R GT
Engine: Turbo 3.0L Approx. 450HP
Spoon Balanced and Blue printed
Spoon Yellow valve Cover
All internals are Spoon balanced
Transmission: 6-speed manual, LSD Type-R Standard
Wheels: F: TypeR 17"x 7 ½" R: TypeR 17"x 8 ½"
Tires F: 215 40 17 R: 255 40 17 Bridgestone
Exhaust: Spoon Single Exhaust for Turbo
Brakes: Spoon Monoblock Calipers, Spoon Large Rotors, Spoon Brake pads, Spoon Brake lines,
Suspension: Spoon Custom Dampers
Exterior: Air duct Spoon Unicorn and sides air duct, Front Bumper Spoon aero, Rear Bumper, Spoon aero, Dry carbon Fiber trunk, Dry Carbon Door panels.
For more on Daijiro Yoshihara, Tyler McQuarrie or GT Channel visit their websites below:
http://www.tylermcquarrie.com/
For more on Mine's or Spoon please visit:
http://www.ppi-mines.com/index.html
APR Performance Dry Carbon Fiber for the Nissan GT-R R35
The GT-R, which is arguably the most impressive vehicle on the road today, deserves only the best. Lots of companies make various carbon fiber pieces for the Nissan GT-R--hoods, diffusers, side skirts, spoilers, etc.--and now APR Performance, who have been making fantastic Dry Carbon Fiber pieces since 1999 are joining that group of companies. The benefits of carbon fiber are obvious: it's stronger than steel, far lighter than aluminum, and gorgeous. APR Performance has proven, too, that their carbon fiber work is second to none since they've entered the fray.
For years now, APR has been crafting carbon fiber pieces for high-end track applications (from Drag to Drift, and Rally to Road-Course Racing), and their pieces are always thoroughly track tested to ensure optimal performance. This dedication to quality and performance is what has me so excited about their new line of GT-R R35 Carbon Fiber pieces, too. Becoming available to the public in April, APR now offers Front Air Dam and Side Skirt options for the GT-R. These new stylish body pieces offer fantastic aerodynamic benefits to help with Lift and Drag reduction, as well as handling and cornering stability.
The first piece, their new Front Air Dam, is an absolute work of art. With an extended under-chassis plate, the APR Front Air Dam has both strength and enhanced performance, and the front lip spoiler design allows for fantastic airflow to reduce front-end lift and increase front-end stability and cornering grip. The extended under-chassis portion is also purposefully designed with fin-like curves to help increase the aerodynamic benefits. A lot of front lip spoilers don't include an extended plate like this one does, and in that way, they're immediately inferior. The plate, again, helps with the aerodynamics and really adds a lot of strength to the piece as a whole. The look of the front air dam is top-notch, too. The pre-pregnated Dry Carbon Fiber has a gorgeous, tight weave pattern, and the UV and fade resistant sealer that APR uses for finishing has an incredible brilliance to it. The curves and angles of the piece are aggressive and impressive, and do a lot to improve the over-all appearance of the front-end without being too showy or in your face, like some of the larger more extended front lips you'll see out there. Installed, it really looks like the piece was designed by Nissan engineers specifically for the vehicle, and you can see just how much care and concern APR has put in to this part.
The second piece, the Side Skirts, are everything that the front Air Dam is and more! Their lines, to start with the visual appearance, are absolutely fantastic. The extended flare past the door on the side skirts looks awesome, yet the piece itself still has a lot of the classy subtlety to it. Again, the quality of the Carbon Fiber is unmatched, and the finish has a great brilliance to it. The splitters work, functionally, in much the same way that the front air dam does, also. Their extended lips allow for a reduction in air roll underneath the vehicle chassis--this "roll" acts as a huge aerodynamic buffer eating away at over-all performance numbers. By channeling the wind flowing across the vehicle more efficiently, these Side Skirts help to reduce drag and improve handling. Again, too, they look near-perfect on the GT-R. These things were definitely designed to be installed on this vehicle. The portions of the splitters that attach these pieces to the vehicle are also thick and wide, and really guarantee a lot of strength and durability. They're pretty easily installed, and, once on the vehicle, certain to hold up for a very very long time. If the quality of APR's other work--they're incredibly popular within the Corvette, BMW, and G35 communities--is indicative of these pieces at all, they'll almost certainly stand the test of time longer than most OEM body components will.
Combined, these two parts add almost no weight to the vehicle thanks to the feather-like nature of carbon fiber, and they help with performance, and even things like gas mileage, thanks to their aerodynamic benefits. And you know, again, that they're great because they're an APR product--a company whose line-up has been used on winning vehicles at Pike's Peak, in SCCA Nationals, and record-setting Willow Ring laps. Ultimately, if you're looking to improve the handling abilities and the exterior styling of your Nissan GT-R, these new pieces from APR are an absolute home-run for you. Great products from a great company, and I'm so happy to see them really entering in to the GT-R market with some force! I expect even more greatness from them in combination with the GT-R in the future.
Nissan Germany’s Guerrilla Marketing Campaign for the Porsche-Killer GT-R
Nissan Germany recently went to the streets with a new, aggressive, and very interesting marketing campaign. Some people have criticized it for being over-the-top, and too much by the Japanese car company, but in Porsche company it feels like a pretty brilliant idea to me. Also, it's harmless, and funny. I can't imagine the Porsche owners who were targeted by the campaign were particularly upset by the stunt, so, the internet outrage that has started to grow in some circles seems a little unwarranted. I figured I'd share it though, in case you haven't seen it yet, because again, it's a ton of fun. The reactions from the Porsche owners (and I'm doing what I can to not give away the trick of the campaign yet) are pretty hilarious.
Check it out for yourself: